MUSKOKA — Local hospitals will be under new direction in the new year as they face more of the pandemic after president and CEO Natalie Bubela tendered her retirement notice last night. Bubela, who has headed up the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) since January 2011, will be leaving at the end of December. MAHC’s board […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Less than a week before school and half the 8 COVID cases in Muskoka today are among children aged 0-17. With the 4 other northern adults they add up to one third of the 24 local cases Friday. Simcoe had 16 cases as the combined halves of the region […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKKOA — A vaccine blitz at three parks in Gravenhurst this afternoon and early evening drew a decent number of people seeking both first and second shots. And while yesterday’s vaccine certification no doubt spurred some today to roll up their sleeves, most young first-timers said it was more about just […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — If you’re not vaccinated, you’d better act fast — by Sept. 22 — if you want access to non-essential indoor services. Provincial vaccination proof (2 doses) will be required for dining rooms, bars, sporting events, theatres and gyms among other venues. Grocery stores and other essential services won’t require […]
Story and photos by Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — A fatal overnight fire today in which a woman, 49, died and more than a dozen people, including her family, escaped has shaken the devastated residents of the small five-unit apartment building — some of whom openly speculated it may be “arson.” Erica Curtis-Nickason died […]
MUSKOKA — A Gravenhurst health professional is among four new women board of directors of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC). They replace four other board members who are leaving management of the two local hospitals in Bracebridge (SMMH) and Huntsville (HDMH). Marsha Barnes was approved last week at the annual virtual general meeting last Monday, Aug. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Fifty cases reported this weekend — including one in Muskoka — come as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ramps up vaccinations clinics on the second-last day of August. Three of them will take place in Gravenhurst on Thursday. The Gravenhurst man, aged 65-79, is under investigation as to […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Summer’s been a busy time for local police who have charged 20 people with impaired driving since mid-July. Provincial police say they are “disappointed” at the unusual number of drivers charged during the past six weeks. Thursday morning was their latest arrest. They say that on Aug. 26, just before 8 a.m., a […]
GRAVENHURST — A local man charged with impaired driving gave police a brief foot chase before being caught. OPP responded to a complaint of a pick-up truck that crashed into a tree near a residential area on Beaver Ridge Road in Gravenhurst, Tuesday Aug. 24 at 12:30 p.m. Officers arrived and the located the driver […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forty new cases in Simcoe show the growing extent of the coronavirus as the greater public clamour for vaccinations becomes deafening — defining and more dividing. This as CBC late Friday afternoon reported that Premier Doug Ford has reversed himself on vaccine passports and that the province will institute […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 30 more local cases today — including 1 in Huntsville — the region’s medical officer of health says “it would be prudent for the province to consider and further investigate the potential for” a vaccine certification or verification approach. Dr. Charles Gardner said in statement released today through […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A pop-up vaccine clinic in Gravenhurst today was cancelled due to heat and threat of rain. Officials at the Farmers’ Market at the Muskoka Wharf, where “thousands” were on hand for the weekly sale, were expecting the health unit to be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Forget the fourth wave. A crime wave is sweeping across town here. Right here in Muskoka River city. In the heart of town right where the new nearby MUCC community centre, library, rink and sports fields are planned in a year’s time. And the culprits? A band of people on bicycles and ATVs, […]
BRACEBRIDGE — Memo to wannabe cottagers: Please see related story about John Cleese on MuskokaTODAY.com. And be advised: If the on golden pond price seems too good to be true … it probably is. Local coppers have received several complaints from people who have been victimized by online cottage rental scams. They say scammers are […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — High school homework is history — but not this fall when students (and teachers) can take home COVID rapid test kids. That’s on the provincial books next month for most school boards including Simcoe-Muskoka. This as Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports 21 cases Tuesday in Simcoe after 19 […]
HUNTSVILLE — Police here were busy this weekend with three collisions and four impaired driving investigations. Last evening, Sunday Aug. 23, at 6:44 p.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision on Balsam Chutes Road in Port Sydney. Police say a witness reported the vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree. Officers located the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A young Gravenhurst man, 18-35, is under investigation after testing positive for COVID-19 Friday. He is one of 61 cases reported since then by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). He was reported Aug. 21 the same day as was his first episode. His is one of 183 […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — A few passings of late worth note. Bill Monk was not only the go-to surgeon whose knife most south Muskokans went under for decades. But he was also the founder of the Cellar Singers, who began by rehearsing in his basement. Hence its name. The choir has gone on […]
MUSKOKA LAKES — A Bracebridge driver faces four charges including fleeing the scene of an accident after an occupant was airlifted to Toronto with serious injuries late Friday. Police say officers, along with Muskoka EMS and Muskoka Lakes Fire Department, responded to a single vehicle crash after 911 calls from people in the area of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — An overnight death in Simcoe today comes as the county sees 21 new COVID cases. The man, aged 45-64, was 1 of 2 people in the province reported to have died, as Ontario reported a surging 650 COVID cases. Public Health Ontario only counted 15 people with the virus […]